404 



Marvels of the Universe 



shown amongst the illustrations. The nest was of an oblong form and of extraordinary size, measur- 

 ing five feet in circumference, with a diameter of eighteen inches. How many tiers it contained is 

 uncertain, as it was preserved whole for a museum specimen. Judging from its measurements, 

 it would contain at least sixteen tiers. Another remarkable feature of this nest was its pale 

 biscuit-colour ; each little band of masticated paper added to the shelly patches by the individual 

 workers could be distinctlj' seen, as shown in the photograph. 



The British Tree Wasps construct their nests on almost identical principles with those of the 

 Common Wasp here described, excepting that they are suspended amongst the branches of the 

 trees. Each of the three species found in this country favours different trees : one selects thorny 

 hedgerows, another holly bushes, while a third usually places its nests upon the branches of 

 larch-trees. These nests often surprise country people when discovered for the first time. 



There are also three British species of Ground Wasps, not including the large species known as 

 Hornets, which sometimes build underground, though more often in a roof or in a rotten tree ; 

 but the Wasps themselves require a practised eye to distinguish. The outer covering of the 

 nest is, however, the best guide to their recognition, as each species seems to have its own 

 particular method of paper manufacturing. In the case of the Ground Wasps and the Tree Wasps 

 the distinction is at once obvious (see illustration), but between the individual species it is less 

 easy to recognize. 



In this countrv the nests of the Tree Wasps do not reach such large sizes as those of the 



Plwto iy^ 



A BR.AZILIAN WASP'S NEST. 



This nest \vas built in 

 its smooth surface. The 



an orange-tree, 

 paper substance 



It will be seen 

 of the outer case 



to differ from 



E thicU 



the nests of Br 

 and durable as 



tish Wasps in 

 ;ardboard. It 



\_Jiarold Bastin. 



form as well 

 s Kno^vn as 



Dutchman'* 



